Abstract
Ziziphus mauritiana Lam., commonly known as ber, is an important fruit crop in India; however, its productivity is often constrained by asynchronous flowering. This study investigates the effects of pruning time (February to May) and pruning intensity (light: 25%, moderate: 50%, heavy: 75% shoot removal) on flowering synchronization under the subtropical conditions of Bhopal. A two-year field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) on ‘Gola’ cultivar trees. The results indicated that moderate pruning performed in mid-March led to the highest flowering synchronization, with an 87% overlap in bloom period, representing a 22% improvement over unpruned controls (65%). In contrast, late pruning in May significantly reduced synchronization to 52% and delayed the onset of flowering by approximately 10 days. Heavy pruning favored vegetative growth, resulting in reduced floral overlap (58%). Light pruning in March enhanced flower production, averaging 48 flowers per shoot compared to 40 in the control. Additionally, moderate pruning extended the bloom duration by seven days. These findings suggest that moderate pruning in early spring effectively aligns bud break with resource availability post-dormancy, thereby enhancing floral synchrony. The study provides practical insights for improving ber orchard productivity in Central India, though cultivar-specific responses should be further examined.
